A panel of residents charged with gauging citizen input on transportation projects is asking for a delay in the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency’s vote on moving forward with a Gateway District project in southwest Tallahassee.

Eight members of the 14-member committee in attendance at City Hall Thursday voted 6-2 in seeking the delay. Several residents supporting or opposing the project attended.

Allen Stucks, Sr., chairman of Blueprint's Citizens Advisory Committee.(Photo: Special to the Democrat)

“The Citizen Advisory Committee felt there were too many issues brought forward and not enough issues addressed in the presentation by the (Blueprint) staff,” said committee chairman Allen Stucks, who joined others in voting to delay the vote. “This is probably one of the few times we’ve had a major project like this.”

The Intergovernmental Agency board, made up of city and county commissioners, will consider the recommendations of three committees, Citizens Advisory Committee, the Technical Coordinating Committee and the Intergovernmental Management Committee when voting.

“The recommendation of the CAC is a critical part of the process,” said Ben Pingree, director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Department of Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement. “We are continuing to move forward with analysis, citizen engagement, and preparation for the IA’s meeting on Dec. 5.”

At issue is a Florida State University proposal to partner with Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency planners to create a network of roads to improve access to the university’s southwest campus.

The Gateway District concept would include the addition of a new road proposed by FSU, from Orange Avenue through its property near the Don Veller Seminole Golf Course and Club that would extend to Stuckey Avenue and link up with the FAMU Way extension at Lake Bradford Road.

The agency board vote would amend the original Airport Gateway concept approved by voters in 2014 that would focus on improvements to Springhill Road to a Gateway District that incorporates FSU’s plan.

An affirmative vote would allow the new road network project to be considered in an exhaustive Southwest Area Transportation Plan, which is expected to take a year to conclude.

While largely supported by business owners, the plan has been met with opposition from residents.

Opponents argue it reverses Blueprint’s voter-endorsed plan to improve Springhill Road, while others say it will increase traffic on South Lake Bradford, as well as in nearby neighborhoods.

Kent Wimmer, who also sits on the advisory committee, said he couldn’t support what he called a “bait and switch.”

“They had committed to the neighbors that South Lake Bradford Road would not be the gateway to the airport," he said.

JR Harding, who along with Tallahassee businesswoman Kathy Bell voted against the delay, says he is more interested in one solid proposal rather than one that is splintered.

“As a fellow citizen, I have empathy for the citizens. At the same time, I’m concerned about two separate (road) construction projects going on that are not coordinated," Harding said. "The IA is the ultimate authority on this issue. They were the ones elected to make the decision.”

Bell, whose family owns Coloney Bell Engineering, said she feels the Blueprint technical staff and FSU have had time to properly review the project. She also said FSU’s proposal would provide opportunities for new economic development on the southwest campus and in Innovation Park.

“I voted no because I feel the due diligence that has occurred at this time is pretty deep and wide,” Bell said.

FSU's Kevin Graham said “nothing has changed,” as a result of the committee’s decision.

“In all of Tallahassee, eight people expressed concern last night," he said. "I feel like we are on the right side of a good idea.”